Enteprise crew find that the stations records of the Genesis Device have been erased by the Regula staff.

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The movie:

TERRELL: He couldn't find them. Even the data banks were empty.
KIRK: Erased?

TERRELL: He tortured those people. But none of those people would tell him anything. He went wild. He slit their throats. He wanted to tear the place apart, but he was late. He had to get back to Reliant in time to blow you to bits.

Khan had a one off WMD and a small starship. He wasn't some major threat. Worse he could do is nuke Earth or some other planet and end up dead real quick afterwards--if he got close enough to do it.

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Yeah, billions of lives lost is not a threat at all... Come on, man! A planet dying is not something one should shrug their shoulders at!

Besides, to back up your previous point. We already know Khan didn't get the data from his engagement with Kirk. He wanted all "data and material" as far as Genesis was concerned. Which means at no point did he have anything but Genesis itself in his hands. Still, I think with time his people could have figured the weapon out in detail and made more.

Khan had a one off WMD and a small starship. He wasn't some major threat. Worse he could do is nuke Earth or some other planet and end up dead real quick afterwards--if he got close enough to do it.

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Yeah, billions of lives lost is not a threat at all... Come on, man! A planet dying is not something one should shrug their shoulders at!

Besides, to back up your previous point. We already know Khan didn't get the data from his engagement with Kirk. He wanted all "data and material" as far as Genesis was concerned. Which means at no point did he have anything but Genesis itself in his hands. Still, I think with time his people could have figured the weapon out in detail and made more.

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1) Sorry but in an interstellar community, one planet is no big deal. Would be horrible? Of course, but it's a self limiting threat. But it isn't a big deal in terms of the galactic powers. Even the destruction of Earth in Enterprise is treated as another bad day and they just pack up and head for a new planet.

2) Remember, only David had the true secret of Genesis. Khan and his people start fumbling around they would most likely blow them selves to hell and back. Remember Protomatter isn't safe by ANYONE's standard. The fact it didn't cook off in the lab is probably a small miracle.

1) Sorry but in an interstellar community, one planet is no big deal. Would be horrible? Of course, but it's a self limiting threat. But it isn't a big deal in terms of the galactic powers. Even the destruction of Earth in Enterprise is treated as another bad day and they just pack up and head for a new planet.

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That's an extremely perplexing attitude. But anyway:

1. Earth is the capital of said interstellar community, so its destruction would have vast repercussions.

2. Khan had to know things could only end one way. It was just a question of how much he wanted to take with him on the way down. Same applied to STiD. The Vengeance might have been powerful, but wouldn't stand up to an onslaught from the fleet.

1) Sorry but in an interstellar community, one planet is no big deal. Would be horrible? Of course, but it's a self limiting threat. But it isn't a big deal in terms of the galactic powers. Even the destruction of Earth in Enterprise is treated as another bad day and they just pack up and head for a new planet.

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That's an extremely perplexing attitude. But anyway:

1. Earth is the capital of said interstellar community, so its destruction would have vast repercussions.

2. Khan had to know things could only end one way. It was just a question of how much he wanted to take with him on the way down. Same applied to STiD. The Vengeance might have been powerful, but wouldn't stand up to an onslaught from the fleet.

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1) Earth might be the Capital, but taking it out isn't going to destroy the Federation or even humanity for that matter. Earth can be replaced. Other than causing a temporary disruption in leadership, most planets wouldn't even notice. The only real issue would be the Federation going to war with whomever nuked the planet. If it was Khan he's dead before he leaves the sector, so move on to the business to hand of transferring power.

2) Bingo, for all his posturing, Khan--either version--is very short sighted.

2) Bingo, for all his posturing, Khan--either version--is very short sighted.

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Wasn't that my point to begin with?

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If I missed or glossed over your point, my apologies. But it's a very obvious character flaw in both version of the character, I don't see how it gets missed? Khan is not really the uber-threat fandom makes him out to be. Bad ass? Yes. Long term threat? Nah.

However, I will say with Vengeance he has more potential for damage on multiple targets: Warp in *boom* warp out, warp in *boom* warp out.

What if Khan used the Genesis device strategically? Not to destroy Earth or another planet with billions of inhabitants, but he destroys a key strategic Klingon colony? Imagine a Starfleet ship enters the colony's space, Khan delivers the device, and away he goes. The scale of the destruction would be shocking, and the Klingons would not know it was a one-off attack. For all they know, it's just the beginning. They could logically think it was a surprise attack by the Federation and retaliate. So, Khan could possibly start a war that would be very costly in lives and resources across many planets.

If the Feds tried to explain, why would the Klingons believe any Federation explanation that the device was stolen and the attack an act of terror by an individual? In any case, they would blame the Federation and want retribution.

Was it beam up Kirk and kill right there and then, or have Kirk trapped forever more?

If I were feeling as vengeful as Khan I would leave Kirk on that planet. The point is Khan is not a totally ruthless villain, vengeance is Khan's weakness and because Khan made it personal we have a much better movie for it.

This is not a plot hole but simply questioning Khan's motives.

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It is a massive plot-hole. MASSIVE. He spent the whole movie wanting to kill Kirk right up to beaming up Genesis and then just changed his mind? I call BULLSHIT.

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It's not a plot hole at all. Kirk gave Khan the opportunity to punish him in a more fitting manner than simply killing him. He's going to do to Kirk exactly what Kirk did to him and his wife. Justice. He wasn't settling for anything, he was getting an even better revenge. Hell, Khan flat-out says this. Whether you like that turn or not, it's not a plot hole.

Except that he wanted to kill Kirk before that, and he wanted to kill him afterwards. It may not be a plot hole, but it could be considered out of character considering his actions everywhere else in the movie.